general and specific questions about red cedar fence posts.

[srt]

Scott,

What is an "impact hammer on a tractor"? 

srt

[CLL]

ARKY and Cedarman, prices in central Mo is still at about 35 cents. You ask most of the sawers and they tell you they pay 45-50, call them and offer to sell them cedar logs and its 35-38 cents. It always amazes me why people have to lie to you about what they pay for or sell for. My opinion is if you don't want them to know don't tell them.

[scsmith42]

SRT, this link will show you what I'm referring to.

http://www.wikco.com/wspostdrvr.html

Basically it's a big piece of steel I-beam with a heavy weight that slides on it.  Springs pull the weight down, and the tractor hydraulics raise the weight to the top.

You position the fence post inside the I-beam and then trip the weight to pound it in.

Low tech, but beats pounding them in by hand and much tighter than augering them.

Scott

[Dave Shepard]

Here on the farm we would do the same as Arky, start a hole with a bar, and drive them in with a post maul. It probably weighs about 15 pounds. I did about a mile of fence at work this summer, we pushed locust posts in with a Kobelco SK150. We'd run a string if they had to be straight.

[srt]

Thanks Scott,  That's what I'm familiar with too.  For some reason, I was thinking there was a different, less store bought idea you were using.

[scsmith42]

SRT, the method that I intend to use in the future is to take a Hy-ram hydraulic hammer (typically used on a backhoe to break up concrete) and fabricate a sleeve to sit over the bit.  The posts will go into the sleeve, and then I'll use the ram to drive them into the ground. 

Theoretically, it should work similar to a palm nailer, but on a larger scale.

[submarinesailor]

Theoretically, it should work similar to a palm nailer, but on a larger scale.

Like a BIG palm nailer I would say.  Wonder if it will bust up the end of the post?

Bruce

[stonebroke]

Some pf the more powerful post pounders use a hardwood or plastic plug to prevent mashing the end of the post.

Stonebroke

[scsmith42]

I've wondered about this myself.  I think that I'll need to start with a clean, flat end on the post, and keep some downward pressure on the hammer so as to keep the plate in contact with the post.

In addition to a hardwood plug, as a backup lan I was thinking about cutting up a piece of an old tire and insert it above the post in order to soften the blows.  I don't think that I'll try this unless I start shattering posts.

Another option would be to install a pressure relief valve on the hydraulics so that I can dial the pressure down.

Scott

[Cedarman]

About the only time we busted a post was if the top wasn't perfectly flat.